Dear Editor,
I understand that the Geographic Board is either currently considering or about to consider a change of name for the village of Benneydale in the King Country. I understand that this change has been sought by a nearby (Te Kuiti) part-Maori group, Maniapoto Maori Trust Board.
I have read a local newspaper report in which that Board has claimed that there is a consensus (I think that means general agreement) that the name should be changed to Maniaiti-Benneydale. How ungainly!
But there is no consensus, no general agreement, not even a particular agreement, at least not outside of the Maniapoto Maori Trust Board members, none of whom live in Benneydale.
During March this year, propelled by their masters seeking to find a sensational story, and to present a narrative about support for a flimsy Maori historical connection to a village with a non-Maori name, two news reporters, one from the Waikato Times, the other from Radio New Zealand, came to Benneydale separately. They spent some time here, and they conducted a number of interviews. But, despite their best efforts, neither reporter could find a resident who wanted Benneydale’s name changed. Not one. Nor could they find a resident who accepted the Maniapoto Board’s claim as valid. But they did find residents who firmly oppose any change of name.
The newspaper reporter went away and wrote a story that was falsely headlined “Town divided over name change.” One discerns a political, perhaps racist, bias there. The radio reporter’s report was headlined “Entire town against name change”. Accurate and honest reporting. One can imagine the story that radio reporter might write if a change of name is imposed upon Benneydale.
Meanwhile, TVNZ ran a Marae story under an opening “King Country town divided…” Well, who these days believes anything they hear via TVNZ?
The facts are:
- Benneydale was named, from its inception, after two men responsible for the construction and management of the coal mine which gave employment to almost all Benneydale male adults.
- There was no town or village in existence when Maniaiti (or Maniai-Ti) stopped briefly to relieve himself. Nor did any township spring from that event.
- The original demand was for a change of name from Benneydale to Maniaiti, in a muscle-flexing exercise by Maniapoto part-Maori representatives.
- There is total opposition from Benneydale residents to any name change.
- The demand has now been changed to a name Maniaiti-Benneydale, as a face-saving strategy in recognition of the massive opposition to any name change.
Any application of common sense and of the principle of subsidiarity will conclude that Benneydale must remain Benneydale. Any decision to impose a change of name upon Benneydale could be seen only as an act of racism, in complete disregard for Benneydale residents.
Yours,
Leo Leitch
Benneydale
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